Former UN chief to visit Thailand

BANGKOK, December 30 (TNA) - Former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan will reportedly visit Thailand in February 2012, as an invitation of the government's Truth for Reconciliation Commission of Thailand (TRCT). A TRCT member, Kittipong Kittayarak, told reporters on Friday of Annan's planned trip to Bangkok, saying that the former UN chief has accepted TRCT's invitation and will arrive in the Thai capital on February 16, beginning his three-day visit to the city. Kittipong acknowledged that the former UN secretary general will discuss with TRCT's reconciliation strategies in Thailand and will share his experiences in bringing all parties in the country together during his visit to Bangkok from February 16-19. The former UN chief has also called on the government-appointed TRCT to be open for public participation in proposals on national reconciliation and on all parties in the country to join forces in achieving the reconciliation goal. (TNA)